Jan. 15, 2020 - The Power of Identity

Freshman Aubery Crespo smiles in the auditorium. When Crespo’s dad worked in the military she traveled all around the country.

(Photo by Kaili Martin)

MOVING WITH THE WIND

English teacher Dawn Jones comments on a question being asked by a librarian. Jones has been an English teacher at Francis Howell North for 17 years and has recently planned to be a librarian. She is a FHSD Tech Ambassador and she’s immersed herself in PD (Professional Development) that will prepare her for her future role as a librarian. (Photo by Sarah Williams)

BRAVE FOR BOOKS English teacher Dawn Jones is working to become a librarian

by Sydney Ellison

“She is seriously one of the hardest workers I know,” Johnson said. “I’m not just saying that. Like Books have always been a part of her life. They I said, she just sets a goal and she will pretty much make her laugh, make her cry, make her happy. stop at nothing to achieve it. I feel like she’s got that That love for books is part of the reason Dawn Jones whole resilience and grit factor going that you just became an English teacher. Now that admiration can’t deny how much hard work she puts into the for books has helped to dream up another goal: to things that she does.” become a librarian.

Jones has experienced some difficulties along “Books hold power and words hold power and I the way that have prevented her from becoming a love that as much as I love technology and I think librarian. She went through a personal family issue it’s important, I don’t want us to ever forget about last year and has been focused on her children and books,” Jones said. family since then. She credits her connection to her Jones has been an English faith on how she got past this trying teacher for 17 years and has loved time. Now she feels like she is in a the job. She currently teaches good place and she readily awaits English for juniors and seniors. She the future.

Check out more about felt the call to become a librarian, “I want to be a librarian, I am really Dawn Jones here: also known as a media specialist, trusting God’s timing,” Jones said. “I bit.ly/NSJones around three years ago and has really believe that I’m going to land been working toward her goal right where I’m supposed to.” ever since. Jones passed the certification test two Not rushing to end her career as an English years ago and since then has been getting hours teacher, Jones will start applying for jobs in spring shadowing other librarians.

2020. She hopes to stay within the district to be a “I love discussing books with students and finding school librarian but is open to anything. books that they enjoy so I’m really just getting more “I feel like I’m going to get the best of everything hours for myself to feel more prepared,” Jones said.

I love as an English teacher without necessarily the According to Jones, everyone has been supportive daily tasks in the classroom,” Jones said. “[Also] of her goal and to some it’s no surprise. Her fellow being able to put my energy into technology and English teacher, Kristen Johnson, was the first person books and students and teachers.” at FHN who Jones told about her goal.

sydney.ellison55@gmail.com

MORE INFO

PAGE BY JUSTIN BREWER AND ANDREW TUETH

Moving often, packing lightly and living in completely different environments every two years. Friends come and go as freshman Aubery Crespo and her family blow in the wind. Aubrey’s father, Joshua Crespo, is an Air Force veteran- a job that comes with responsibility and sacrifice.

Joshua, 38, recently retired from the Air Force.

He has a different job within the military, but no longer has to move his family around for his job. His wife, Angelica Crespo, is also an Air Force veteran. Joshua and Angelica have two daughters, Aubrey and Lily Crespo.

“He was a staff sergeant,” Aubrey said. “My Dad now works as an imagery analyst. It’s like a geography thing, he looks at landscapes to find bad people.”

When Aubrey was eight, she moved to Osan Airforce Base in South Korea. Two years later, she moved to California and stayed there until she was 11.

“The worst place I ever lived was California because everything is dead there; you can’t really go outside,” Aubrey said. “South Korea was the best place I lived because the food was great and the culture was cool.”

Before Aubrey and her family moved for the first time, her father was deployed to Afghanistan for seven months. He was never on the battlefield, but he did work in dangerous conditions.

“I don’t remember how I felt, I was like five or six. I was sad that he was gone, but I knew he would be back.” Aubrey said. “I remember we would Skype him every once in a while. We also sent him giant boxes filled with things like cookies and cards saying we miss him. We also would put stuffed animals in there.”

Moving homes can often affect a child and their ability to make friends. Even though Aubrey has met people and left people, she doesn’t let that keep her down.

“She had to move away from her best friend. If I were in her situation, it would be lonely,” Adrian Hensley said. “She keeps her spirit.” (Brief by Ivy Lowery)

FEATURES | 01.15. 20 | FHNTODAY. COM

19